§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the present ineffective methods of local administration in respect of vagrants and their lack of uniformity, he will consider the advisability, by legislation or otherwise, of entirely re-casting the present system, and of transferring the supervision, control, and maintenance of vagrants from boards of guardians to the police authority?
§ Mr. BURNSIt would not be possible to make the change suggested by the hon. Member without legislation, and the plan presents other practical difficulties. I may say, however, that I am endeavouring to develop in different areas the way-ticket system, the results of which have so far been encouraging. And in London the co-ordination of the casual wards under the Metropoltian Asylums Board, aided by the co-operation of the Police, and of a number of charitable agencies, gives promise of a considerable improvement.